Skopje, 16 December 2021 (MIA) – President Stevo Pendarovski has welcomed the approach of the new Bulgarian Prime Minister, Kiril Petkov, that history shouldn’t be the only channel of communication between Skopje and Sofia. “The commission on historical issues is important, but we cannot discuss history and history only and decide whether someone deserves to join the EU through the achievements of this history commission. I expect as soon as possible, this month or maybe the next, to start implementing in practice Petkov’s plan,” Pendarovski said Thursday evening in an interview with TV Telma. According to him, the establishment of working groups on energy, infrastructure, education, investments, culture, in addition to history, is a far more modern approach than the one implemented by the previous government in Bulgaria. “I’m not saying, neither Petkov has said that he will not protect the Bulgarian national interests. But, let’s discuss more areas and the real criteria needed to start negotiations and join the EU,” said Pendarovski. Petkov earlier this week said that the dispute could be solved in the next six months. According to Pendarovski, it is a long time. The countries, he added, have been having negotiations since 2017 after the signing of the bilateral treaty. “We’ve discussed many issues and I believe there’s no issue that could be a surprise. The problem was that Bulgaria has imposed the approach of if the historians in the commission give the thumbs up, then we can be approved to open negotiations,” the President said. Asked about Bulgaria’s 5+1 demands, Pendarovski said North Macedonia has sent responses, but Sofia is yet to respond to them. “De facto, we got the response yesterday and today with Bulgaria’s latest veto. It’s evident they don’t like some of the responses, but there are red line we cannot cross. Our response will be the same if the same items are tabled to be discussed in February or March,” said Pendarovski. Asked whether the country could expect the positions to change having in mind that Bulgaria has put forward its own conditions for the negotiating framework in Brussels, saying that adoption of the negotiating framework doesn’t mean opening of negotiations, Pendarovski said Bulgaria maintains the same rhetoric. “[Bulgaria] has historical and political continuity. We shouldn’t rush, we are a candidate country for 17 years. We cannot hit our head against the wall because Sofia hasn’t changed its position on the Macedonian issue since Communism,” the President noted. The country, he mentioned, has a parliamentary declaration including the red lines, backed by all parties.